And now, for something that may not make any sense: the internalized thoughts of Lloyd and Presea the night before the final battle. Imagine this as a kind of confession booth before the battle. I don't know where I got this idea from, but I hope it works.

Chapter 10: Internal Battle Plans

-Presea-

It seems so surreal…one moment I am working in my humble restaurant, the next I have advanced to the finals on the Iron Chef Symphonia. Funny how the world works, isn't it? It's like me, having lost sixteen years of my life—one moment I'm doing something, the next I'm saving the world, and I don't remember anything in between.

Even though I'm not concerned about it so much, winning would be nice. The quarter of a million gald will mean so much to the reconstruction of Ozette. While most of the town has returned to normal, even after three years, there are still many things that need repairing, and our local infrastructure could use all the support it can get. I, for one, am grateful that Sheena and the village of Mizuho have offered to help in the last year or so, but I do not wish to impose this burden on them any longer. It is about time the citizens of Ozette picked up the pieces independently.

But I repeat—I am looking to represent the rebirth of Ozette, not to ask for Aselia's pity anymore. I want to show the world that Ozette has returned in a big way, and I hope the aftermath of my appearances on the Iron Chef Symphonia will benefit the town in some way. Even if I do not win, I hope to take solace in the fact that I have represented my hometown well.

To tell the truth, I don't really know what to make of battling Lloyd in the final. Yes, he is someone I've looked up to as a friend and a leader (even if he is a little slow), and he is someone who does not go down easily. I must admit, I have a hard time imagining him as a chef, though perhaps this is a result of not keeping in touch since the group started on their own paths. I don't know his strengths, I don't know his weaknesses, and I'm not going to try and plan around them depending on what the theme ingredient is.

The theme itself? Well, I'm personally hoping for a vegetable or a fruit, something I can carve. I worked well with seafood before, but I really don't think they'll give us another seafood theme. I honestly don't know what I would do if meat were the ingredient—I don't like working with it, honestly. But yeah, maybe apples or carrots would be best for me.

As long as my friends and supporters are there watching me, I'll do my best.

-Lloyd—

Somebody explain what just happened to me. Between the battle, the result, Dad showing up…my head is a giant whirlwind right now. And I was one of the people who saved the world, too…we've done harder things than this, why am I so nervous?

It's Presea I'm going up against in the final. Really, that might help unnerve me. Going against Colette really was hard for me emotionally—I wanted to win, but I really wanted Colette to win as well. I suppose it would've been the same way if I had gone against Genis or Sheena. What can I say, I'm a sap, I let my emotions get in the way of my thinking. But if it worked to help save the world, then I'm all for it.

My point here is that because I don't have that much of an emotional connection to Presea, I might do better in the battle simply because I won't feel guilty if I win afterwards. Sounds terrible of me, I know. But maybe I can learn something from her cooking? At least, I think that would be what the Professor would want me to say.

Ingredient? Uhhhmmm…well, I don't really know what my strengths and weaknesses in the kitchen are. I'm still trying to figure out who I am as a chef, so I guess this whole process has been a learning experience for me. The fruit theme last time—it was good for me, but I didn't feel like I was doing my full potential with it. Now, the duck dish I made? OK, yeah, then I felt like I was going all out. So I guess I'm hoping for a meat theme ingredient? I just don't think vegetables are exciting enough for a grand final, and they wouldn't give us two fruit themes in a row. Seafood, I guess would be okay, but I won't be thrilled about it—especially if it's alive.

I really take Kaga's message to heart, simply because we've fought so hard to make this world what it is today. And I think he's doing something really nice, because it's something all people can connect with. I really hope that this will begin a new chapter in the world where the only fights are over how bad the Professor's cooking is.

This was intentionally short. I'll have the final written…sooner rather than later, I hope.